Air operated conveyor apparatus

ABSTRACT

Air operated material handling equipment for use with similar articles which may be received separately, or en masse from intermediate bulk storage with apparatus for dispensing the articles for movement along one or more guided paths in an organized series of individual pieces disposed closely adjacent one to the other but with additional capability for providing narrow space intervals therebetween whereby the pieces are moved essentially on a single piece basis. Containers having elongated longitudinal axes are moved from an orientation wherein the longitudinal axes are disposed vertically and in side by side relationship through a confined channel having cooperatively curved inner and outer radiuses to a zone of reception and storage wherein the longitudinal axes are disposed in side by side and stacked relationship. Subsequently the articles are moved from such position down guide chutes and/or over a cascade element to separate individual articles and for moving such individual articles in one or more single row arrangements laterally and sidewardly along a guided path wherein the longitudinal axes are horizontally disposed along a single plane with the articles in the desired single piece series arrangement. Jets of air are delivered by angularly disposed nozzles to impinge against the articles for separating such articles from bulk storage and for movement to a single piece aligned position. Additional air is discharged in sheet or bulk air blast to facilitate the desired separation and dispensing of articles and also to prevent damage to such articles when being moved or dropped in somewhat bulk relationships.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent ApplicationSer. No. 869,371 filed Jan. 13, 1978 entitled AIR OPERATED CONVEYORAPPARATUS now U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,586.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Present improvements in container fabricating and filling equipment andthe increased production rates required for the more economicalpresentation of products make improvements in article handling equipmenthighly desirable. Previously used chain, roller and gravity handlingsystems may now be considered too inefficient, noisy, cumbersome ormechanicaly unreliable for full satisfaction of present dayrequirements. In order to provide improved production results, it isacknowledged that others have previously used pressurized air formoving, sorting, elevating, turning and dispensing separable articles ofthe type to be handled by the apparatus described herein. In general itis believed that the design, operation and results obtained from use ofthe applicant's new equipment provides a further improved result.

The present invention is directed to the provision of apparatusembodiments that are specifically useful for moving separate articles toand from a zone of bulk storage with the delivery therefrom being on asingle piece basis and with the separate single pieces being oriented ina desired side by side relationship. The present embodiments, however,are exemplary of a series or family of inventions set forth in separateapplications with each application being directed to a different orvaried type of article handling equipment that is characterized by thetreatment or movement imparted to the separate articles by suchequipment. The present invention embodiments move multiple articles frombulk storage to one or more single file series arrangements and might begenerally identified as multiple single filer apparatus. Otherinventions are directed to horizontal conveying apparatus with thearticles in horizontal or vertical orientation; to article turningapparatus; to table accumulators, etc.

For all such air handling equipment inventions, other than the tableaccumulators and the bulk storage features of the present invention, anoverriding concept or mode of operation is common. Such concept isinherent in the following analyses: when the individual articles are tobe moved in other than a bulk arrangement, the air being impingedthereagainst will be of controlled flow, pressure and direction to holdthe articles in an individually balanced straight position insofar aspossible and with the air discharge being configured to a maximum extentto keep the individual articles in a single piece arrangement wherebyinterference between adjacent articles and the bulking of weight ofmultiple articles is avoided. To attain such beneficial and desirableresults, novel arrangements and dispositions for pressurized jets andvents are cooperatively utilized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional elevation of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a rearwardly directed partial cross-sectional elevation takenalong the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged forwardly directed cross-sectional elevation takenalong the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation similar to that of FIG. 1taken in the zone generally defined by the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 to showfeatures of the cascade element of FIG. 1 in enlarged detail;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional elevation similar to thatof FIG. 2 showing the position of discharge jets with respect to thesize of containers being handled;

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan view of an air turning plenum or blowbacknozzle disposed in position of orthographic projection with respect toFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional elevation similar to that of FIG. 1showing a second embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 8 through 10 areside views similar to that of FIG. 1 schematically showing variedoperational article delivery results for varied air valve and ventconfigurations;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a forwardly directed elevation taken along the line 12--12 ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation showing a separate operating status of suchembodiment;

FIG. 14 is a partial top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional elevation similar to that of FIG. 1showing still a further embodiment of the invention having a pluralityof air turning plenums or blowback nozzles;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of one of the blowback nozzles;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view along line 17--17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional elevation similar to that of FIG. 1showing still another embodiment of the invention having a plurality ofair turning plenums or blowback nozzles in conjunction with a dualsingle filer arrangement;

FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional elevation similar to that of FIG. 18illustrating another embodiment with a quadruple single filerarrangement; and,

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view along line 20--20 of FIG. 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Structural and operative features of an air single filer inventionembodiment are shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 and 8 through 10. In suchillustrations the actual single filer components are disposed at thelower reaches of the device, and it should be understood that such airsingle filer components may be used together with the waterfall and bulkstorage components of such illustration, or the same single filercomponents could be combined with other bulk storage elements andcomponents or could be arranged in a material handling line to receivecontainers being delivered on a constant or intermittent basis fromother container forming apparatus, or printing or filling equipment.Similarly, the air single filer components could be coupled to receivecontainers in bulk from pallet storage units or from bulk containerswherein bulk shipping cartons or specialty containers package thematerials in an already stacked side-by-side relationship.

For purposes of identification, main components in the illustratedembodiment of the invention would include the waterfall segment or zone12 as shown in FIG. 2, a bulk storage zone 13, and the single filercomponent identified by the overall zone 14. The upper limit of thesingle filer zone itself might be operationally defined to include anupper inclined ramp 16 and all of the cans disposed thereon that are ina relatively moving and non-bridging relationship one with respect tothe other. The bulk storage zone 13 would then be intermediate thewaterfall delivery component 12 and such single filer zone 14.

The waterfall component as illustrated in FIG. 2 simply includes innerand outer radius sheets 17 and 18 which are disposed apart a distancejust slightly greater than the length of the containers being handledwhen measured along their longitudinal axes. With such arrangement eachof the containers 20 will be moved in a somewhat fan arrangement whereinthe containers are disposed with the longitudinal axes verticallyoriented (see container 21) and disposed along the full width of thewaterfall to a position where the containers are in side-by-siderelationship across the width of the storage zone 13 with thelongitudinal axes disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation asindicated by the container 22. The spacing between the curved sheets 17and 18 will allow slight movement of the containers as they fall in thedesired pattern, but the spacing should be closely regulated so that theoutside limiting corners of the containers will not be able to tiltsufficiently to cause cocking entrapment thereof. Since the containersfall freely through the waterfall zone 12 and into the bulk storage zone13, they will have a tendency to be self-stacking in the bulk storagezone and in a most closely nested arrangement wherein the axes of roundcontainers as illustrated will be disposed along a 60° pyramid faceangle at the zone 33 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the bulk storage zone 13 all of the containers 20 are supported bythe upper inclined ramp 16, but the regular 60° stacked arrangement isnot maintained throughout such zone, since the lower level of containerswill have a tendency to move down the downwardly inclined ramp 16 is amanner that disrupts the stacked arrangement. If the upper inclined ramp16 is disposed at an angle of 15° with respect to the horizontal, thecontainers 23 closely thereabove and supported by the upper ramp 16 willhave a tendency to move away from the stacked 60° pyramid arrangement,and a movement down and along the ramp 16 will be instituted. Thecontainers will fall freely off the end of the ramp 16 and the smalldiameter roller 34 at the end of the ramp 16 to fall into a rearwardlydisposed area 35 of the single filer component 14. In such rearwardlydisposed area 35 of the single filer component 14, containers, such ascontainer 24, will have a tendency to stack in a pyramid arrangementabove the lower single filer ramp 36 with the defined face of stackedpyramids of containers then being at an angle of 75° since the lowerramp 36 is itself again disposed at an angle of 15° with respect to thehorizontal.

At a relatively low delivery rate of approximately 1000 cans per minute,round containers of the illustrated relative size with respect to theillustrated single filer component will have a tendency to stack upabout four to five rows deep along the full length of the lower ramp 36and to a full depth coming just up under the upper ramp 16 and the enddelivery roller 34 adjacent such roller. If a deeper or lesser stackheight is desired, the position of ramp 16 and delivery roller 34 may beadjusted. The containers in this rearwardly disposed area 35 anddisposed along and above the ramp 36 will have a tendency to move in aregular pattern forwardly and to the left until they are pushed over anaction lip 37 which defines, with the cascade ramp 38 and flow-out zone39, an ogee curve type of weir structure wherein the cascade ramp 38 isdisposed at an angle of 50°. A weir nomenclature has been used todescribe this cascade element of the single filer component, since theflow of containers or the herein illustrated round cans in the arealimited by this ogee curve structure is quite similar to that whichmight be observed over the spillway or weir or an ogee curved dam. Infact, the construction configuration and size relationships for thiscascade element, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, have been closely determinedand regulated to provide a smooth transition from an accumulated bulktype storage to a single line, single depth, side by side arrangementfor round containers that are to be moved from a zone of bulk storage.The angular disposition of the delivery ramp 36, the resultant pyramidface disposition of 75° for the cans disposed thereabove, and the 50°disposition for the cascade ramp 38 provides an arrangement in which thecans in the previous stacked pyramid arrangement, but at a position nowout of contact with the ramp 36, have a tendency to push the cans thatare on the ramp 38 in a forward direction and apart one from the otherso that the cans above and out of contact with the weir shaped cascadeelement will tend to move downwardly and into contact with the cascaderamp and flow-out zone 39 as the containers are moved out of the bulkstorage zone.

The mechanical forces operative are best understood in connection withFIG. 4 where the line 41 would indicate the disposition of an initialpyramid support face angle of 75° and would correspond to the directionof a gravitational force acting along such line. Line 42 interconnectingthe axis of cans 25 and 26 indicates a force line of increased angletending to separate these cans as they move down the cascade surface 38so that the can 25 can move into position behind can 26. In addition tothe direct weight forces acting along lines 41 and 42, it should beobserved that the cans will tend to rotate in the directions indicatedby the solid curved arrows as they move along the ramp 36 and along thecascade 38. Accordingly, the tendency to move into a single filearrangement will be enhanced. At the bottom of the cascade 38 and in theflow-out zone 39 a near solid contact arrangement for the cans, or aregular spacing of containers, along lower supports will be obtained.Some containers 27, however, will still be observed in position abovethe lower row of containers that move in contact with a bottom flattrack 43 outwardly from the flow-out zone 39.

In addition to the gravitational or mechanical aspects providing thederived movement pattern, the containers in the single filer componentand, in fact, those containers in all of the waterfall and bulk storagezones are buffeted and moved directionally by the flow and impingementof air delivered under pressure to obtain or enhance the desired outputresult.

The containers in the single filer zone are subjected to the action ofdirected flow jet nozzles in the flow-out zone 39 closely adjacent tothe cascade surface 38. Here air under pressure that has been introducedthrough a conduit 44 to separate plenums 46 and 47 disposed at theopposite lateral sides of the container defining delivery walls 48 and49 that are, in fact, a continuum of the sidewalls 48 and 49 of thesingle filer zone 14 and are spaced apart a distance that is slightlygreater than the lateral dimension of the container to be worked on.Such sidewalls 48 and 49 are continued out into the single file layoutzone 50, which is essentially defined by such sidewalls 48 and 49, a topcover 51 and the bottom track 43. The plenums 46 and 47 are disposedalongside and outside of the walls 48 and 49, as shown in FIG. 2, and aplurality of jet nozzles 52, 54, 53 and 55 are drilled through the walls48 and 49, respectively, to deliver angularly disposed jets of airagainst the containers to move the containers down into contact with thebottom track 43 and forwardly therealong to a point of discharge.

The air from the conduits 44 and the plenums 46 and 47 (or at least aportion thereof) that is not delivered through the nozzles 52-55 movesup and rearwardly as indicated by the arrows 56 and 57 for introductionin a rearwardly directed sheet past the slots 58 and 59 and into theinterior of chamber 50. Since the slots 58 and 59 are verticallyelongated, a sheet type discharge flowing along the inner surfaces ofsidewalls 48 and 49 tends to blow any loose cans, such as the cans 28,that may be entrapped in the layout zone 50 in a rearward direction andback toward the single filer zone 14.

The return movement patterns of cans 28 are in large measure regulatedby the positioning of a damper 61 that is disposed at a rearward extentof the layout zone 50 for control of air patterns flowing from the airslots 58 and 59 into the zone 50 and rearwardly back into the singlefiler free air zone 45.

Actually a further element is provided which is operatively intermediatethe layout zone 50 and the single filer zone 14. This element is achimney 62 having a forward wall 63 joined to the sidewalls 48 and 49and disposed forwardly or downstream from vertically disposed open guidebars 64 which extend inwardly from the sidewalls 48 and 49 to preventloss of containers 20 etc. up the chimney. The guide bars 64 terminateat the line 66. Therebelow a plate diaphragm 67 that extends fulldistance between the sidewalls 48 and 49 is provided as an operativeseparator between the zones 50 and 45 if the damper 61 is moved to afull retracted or up position. A pair of guide bars 200 are provided toeither side of the bottom opening of the chimney and extend inwardlyfrom sidewalls 48 and 49 also to prevent loss of containers up thechimney.

In addition to the excess air that moves in reverse pattern as indicatedby the arrows 56 and 57, a portion of such air will be exhausted throughopenings 68 in a confining top 69 which is positioned a distance abovethe bottom 43 corresponding to the diameter of dimension of thecontainers being handled. Accordingly, as the containers 20, etc. aremoved out of the zone 50, they must move out and through a confiningsegment 71 defined by the sidewalls 48 and 49, the track or bottom 43and the confining top 69. At such point the containers are in a singlefile side-by-side disposition with the longitudinal axes disposed inhorizontal position and can be moved from there into a carrier trackstructure 72 having top and bottom confining side rails 73 and 74.Likewise the containers could be moved into a track wherein thesidewalls and top or sidewalls and bottom were of closed plateconstruction so that air would not escape therethrough. For theembodiment illustrated, guide rails 74 are used interiorly of the platetype confining sidewalls with the guide rails extending inwardly adistance of three-fourths to one inch with the remainder of the bottombeing open for the escape of air or misaligned or damaged cans.

A separate plenum is desirably provided for any carrier track 72 and theair supply therefor. The plenums can be provided air under pressure bythe same blower hooked to the conduit 44 and the plenums 46 and 47 or byseparate air pressurizing devices. The carrier track 72 may behorizontally disposed, or it may be inclined, curved or vertical. Theoperating principles utilized will, accordingly, be different. Usuallythe air pressures to be used in the track carrier segment disposeddownstream or past the single filer might be different, and,accordingly, separate blower or separate air pressure will be used. Atleast air valving or control features would be utilized at the output ofthe single filer and at the point of introduction of containers into thenext carrier track segments.

It is intended that the single filer apparatus shown and described willbe used at various installations and will, as previously stated, becoupled in systems to handle containers out of packaging equipment,gravitational flow equipment, or other installations. Necessarily, themanufacturing or handling capacity of all such units is not the same,and it is desirable that the single filer apparatus be adaptable for useat varied input and output rates. Changes in the handling capacity ofthe present embodiment are beneficially accomplished through use of aircontrol, air valving and air directional components. As previously setforth in connection with the chimney 62, a damper 61 is provided thatserves as a primary means for changing air flow patterns within thedevice and in a manner that will effectively change the flow deliveryrate for the single filer. In FIG. 1 the damper 61 is in full downposition, and in this position an air circulating pattern from thelayout zone 50 and into the single filer and storage zones is generated.The return flow air through the slit nozzles 58 and 59 passes under thelowered damper 61 after engaging any circulating cans 28 and cans in theposition 27. A portion of the air will pass under the plate diaphragm 67to move some of the excess cans back into the zone 45. In operation, atan output rate of 1,000 cans per minute, it has been observed that 10 or15 cans will not be in stacked relationship behind the slope face 41 butwill be freely circulating in the air fowardly of the line 41. Five orsix cans will be circulating in layout zone 50 in the area adjacent thecan 28, and two or three freely moving cans may be at a position justabove a bottom row of cans (see can 27). The air flow pattern for returnair, after it has passed under the plate 67, returns past the guide bars64 and up the chimney 62 to be exhausted past the chimney vent 76, whichis itself provided with a weight 77 that can be sized in accordance withthe use of the device or that may be of variable weight, such as a cupto be filled with loose materials. Further, such vent 76 may providesupport for a weight on an extended lever arm with the weight beingmoved along the lever arm to adjust the force tending to close the vent76. A small portion of air recirculated from the zone 50 may coursedirectly up the chimney 62 while guides 200 prevent any cans frompassing up the chimney.

Other represenatative patterns for varied delivery rates are shownschematically in FIGS. 8 through 10. FIG. 8 illustrates the conditionwhere cans are not being delivered by the single filer apparatus. Undersuch circumstances cans will be stacked above the lower ramp 36 aboutfour or five rows deep in a pyramind arrangement with a 75° face angleas indicated by the dotted line 78. A quantity of cans 29 will bedisposed against the open rails 64 to partially block the escape of airpast such rails and up the chimney 62. As in the FIG. 1 configuration,the damper 61 will be down for this no-operation condition. If thedamper is moved to the up position and no cans are being delivered, mostall of the air will be exhausted out of the chimney 62 and past the vent76. Up to fifteen cans might then be circulating in the zone 50, andabout five cans will be circulating in the zone 45.

FIG. 9 shows the air flow and can dispersal configuration when runningapproximately 1,600 cans per minute. For this condition the damper 61will be up and the vents 76 will be full up. Four or five cans will becirculating in zone 45, and five to six cans might circulate in zone 50.The face slope disposal of cans will be somewhat comparable to that ofthe FIG. 1 1,000-can delivery operation with the cans being arranged inechelon positions again defining a fall-away line 41. For this conditionit is noted that more air circulates back into the zone 45, and if thecans on the essentially open ramp 16 are four or five cans deep, airflow upwardly through such ramp is substantially blocked. Under suchcondition the air will flow backwardly into the chimney 62 past theguide bars 65, and it will then come back into the accumulator zone 13.This air flow into the accumulator zone operates beneficially to cushioncans free-falling from the waterfall 12 and helps to limit or minimizeany damage that might be occasioned thereby.

FIG. 10 illustrates operation of the first embodiment of the inventedair single filer operating at the rate of approximately 2,000 cans perminute. For this rate of operation the damper 61 will again be up, butthe flow of cans from the accumulator zone 13 downwardly along the ramp16 must be substantially increased so that the echelon rows of cansdisposed above the lower ramp 36 will be deeper. For such operation,cans will essentially fill all of the zone 35, and the weight of suchcans will itself tend to force more containers downwardly along the ramp36. A similar increased depth of cans will be noted above the ramp 38.With increased air pressures a greater quantity of cans will becirculating in the zone 50 with approximately fifteen to twenty cansbeing involved in the movement pattern in such zone. Approximately eightcans will be circulating in the zone 45. As described in connection withFIG. 9, if only a minor depth of cans is retained on the ramp 16, enoughair will circulate upwardly past the can sidewalls to cushion the cansthat are released by waterfall 12 to drop into the accumulator zone 13.If a greater depth of cans occurs above the ramp 16 in a manner thatwould tend to cut off a direct upward flow of air from the zone 45 intothe accumulator zone 13, air will merely bypass the ramp 16 and courseup the chimney to be reintroduced into the zone 13 at a position aboveramp 16 to provide the beneficial can cushioning effect.

In addition to the air flow patterns shown and described in connectionwith FIGS. 1 and 8 through 10, the separate containers or cans are alsosubjected to forces directed thereagainst through use of a plurality ofjet nozzles which directionally deliver air under pressure from the sideplenums 46 and 47. Desirably, the nozzles are arranged in a regulatedorder so that the cans will be moved in a regular pattern as they aresubjected to successive air pulses delivered by the row arrangednozzles. A desirable arrangement of nozzles and the row arrangementthereof are shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.

The upper rows of nozzles, which are continuous through the lay-downsection corresponding to the zone 50 and in all positions past the weir39, are disposed in a downwardly and forwardly directed dispositionwhere they pass through the walls 48 and 49. These upper-rows of nozzles52-53 have discharge openings at a position approximately one-eighthinch above the top extent of the container with the inlet end thereofbeing higher and rearwardly thereof. The second or lower echelon rows ofopenings 54-55 are discontinuous with a first section disposed adjacentthe layout weir section at 39 and extending downstream therefrom adistance of approximately three containers or about eight inches. Theoutlet ends of these holes, which are again forwardly and downwardlydrilled, are disposed at a discharge position that is at the center lineof the cans or containers being handled to deliver jets of airdownwardly and forwardly against the top and bottom of the can orcontainer or into the interior thereof if open.

The lower echelon rows of openings 54-55 are not continuous throughoutthe zone 50, but such lower row of nozzles resumes at a positionadjacent the confining segment 71 disposed downstream and at the end ofthe single filer component apparatus. The lower rows of nozzles 54 and55 reoccur to provide a second section at a point adjacent a suppressionroller 83 and just ahead of the confining top 69 which helps, togetherwith the bottom rail 43, to define the terminal confining segment 71.The nozzles in the rows 54 and 55 of this second section are againforwardly and downwardly directed so that the air jets emanatingtherefrom will tend to force the containers or cans through the segment71 in a one-by-one pattern arrangement and out of the single filerapparatus.

Where open top cans or other nonregular containers are being handled,the air introduced through the directionally oriented nozzles 52 and 54may have a different velocity than that being introduced at the sametime through the nozzles 53 and 55. If open top cans are being handled,the bottom end thereof will necessarily be of heavier weight. In orderto avoid chattering of the cans as they pass along the bottom rail 43 orthrough the confining segment 71, the air in plenum 47 may be maintainedat a slightly increased pressure when compared to the air beingdelivered by the plenum 46. Accordingly, the air delivered through thenozzles 53-55 and against the closed bottom ends of the cans 20-27 asshown in FIG. 5 will have a slightly increased velocity. With theincreased velocity the carrying capacity of the air out of plenum 47will be increased, and the cans 27 can with proper air pressureadjustments be maintained in a regular and balanced movement pattern. Ithas been found that where aluminum cans are being handled that have aclosed bottom the differential of air pressure between the plenum 47servicing nozzles at the bottom of the cans and the plenum 46 providingair to the top of the can will be approximately 10%. Accordingly, if theair in plenum 47 is at a pressure of eight inches of water staticpressure, the air that will be impinged to carry the open top will be ata water pressure of approximately 7.2 inches. A similar differential inpressure is maintained for all the varied can delivery rates enumeratedin connection with the description of FIGS. 8 through 10.

All of the holes or jet nozzles disposed in the rows 52-55 are drilledin a downward and forward direction with respect to the movement patternfor the containers. In the embodiment illustrated each of the separateholes have a diameter of approximately 3/16ths of an inch, and the holesare drilled on a 1/2 inch center-to-center spacing pattern. With sucharrangement the air from a plurality of jet nozzles engages each can atany time and as it is progressively moved along the bottom rails 43. Thedisposition of the outlet ends of the nozzles in rows 52 and 53beneficially provides an improved result, since the air from thesehole-nozzles tends to keep the cans in a position of contact with thebottom rails 43 at the same time that the forward direction of thenozzles tends to move the containers along such rail. If a space existsbetween adjacent containers, the same nozzles will tend to engage thebottom lip of a can loosely moving in the zone 50 to move such can downtoward engagement with the bottom rail and into a position intermediatepreviously adjacent cans. The nozzles in the first section rows 54 and55 are provided to accelerate the cans as they move away from the weirlayout section 39. The air from such first section nozzles in the rows54 and 55 and also the air directed against the cans by nozzles in thetop rows 52 and 53 at this weir layout position are used to suppress anytendency of cans that are already in contact with the guide rails tomove up and away therefrom due to the weight and flow of cansprogressing down the weir 38.

Distinguishing features of a second embodiment of the invention areshown in FIG. 7. In general, this embodiment of the invention isintended for use when a higher delivery rate is required. The embodimenthas been used to deliver open-ended aluminum containers at a rate of2,500 cans per minute. In order to obtain this high delivery rate,certain components of the embodiment are changed to handle a higher flowdelivery for the air that is used to control the circulation of thecontainers in the zones 50 and 45 and also for higher pressures at thepoints of nozzle release along the lower rail 43.

As in the previous embodiment, an accumulator zone 13 receives thecontainers from either the waterfall zone shown in FIG. 2 or fromanother source. The containers fall into contact with the upper inclinedramp 16 and again fall downwardly therefrom past the roller 34 to bereceived in stacked arrangement in the zone 35 and also in pyramiddistribution above the lower delivery ramp 36. The cans next coursedownwardly over the cascade ramp 38 of a weir section similar to thatillustrated and described in FIGS. 1 and 5. At the bottom of the ramp 38a full row of suppressor nozzles 79 engages the top surface of thecontainers to move the containers into a one-by-one pattern arrangementalong the lower rail 43. As in the previous embodiment, a first sectionof impeller nozzles is provided at 81 adjacent the flow-out zone 39 forthe weir, and a second section of such impeller nozzles 82 is providedadjacent the confining segment 71 adjacent suppressor roller 83. The airfrom the supply 44 and from plenums 46 and 47 (not shown) is deliveredto the rows of nozzles 79, 81 and 82 in the manner previously described.

A back flow of control air is again established from an initial point ofintroduction of back flow chamber 86 adjacent the downstream end of thezone 50. At this point return air is introduced in reverse directioninto the chamber 50 where it will circulate approximately the six cansshown as it attempts to move such cans down into the output row of cansmoving in contact with the bottom rails 43 or backwardly into the weirsection so that such loose cans can be introduced into such output flow.A damper 61 is again used to regulate the amount of reverse air flowthat is to be introduced backwardly and into the zone 45. The air thatis not exhausted past the damper 61 will be moved back past the platediaphragm 67 and into the chamber 45. With the changed flow pattern usedin connection with this embodiment, the plate disphragm 67 isessentially continued upwardly to provide a wall 84 that prevents anyadditional escape of air from the zone 45. With this arrangement allcontrol air that is moved into the zone 45 will have to exhaust upwardlyand through the upper ramp 16 or through loose cans in the zone 35 toreach the accumulator zone 13.

In order to handle containers at the desired delivery rate, aconsiderably increased pressure is contemplated at plenums 46 and 47. Inorder to control an otherwise excess of air that might move into theback flow chamber 86 and into the zone 50 in the reverse flow direction,a separate back vent 80 is provided that will allow escape of airdirectly from the chamber defining the zone 50. An adjustably positioneddoor of such back vent 80 is held in selected position through use of ahook support 87, the free end of which may be engaged into a pluralityof variably positioned openings 88 so that the back vent door 80 will beheld in fixed position once it is adjusted.

At the end of this single filer embodiment a counter 89 may be used tocount the number of cans and the flow rate therefor for all cans exitingthe confining segment 71. The additional structure shown downstream andpast the counter 89 is representative of a carrier track structure 72that can receive the containers delivered by the single filer to carrysuch containers horizontally away therefrom. The carrier track structureis again inclusive of top and bottom container confining side rails 73and 74. The conduit 91 is representative of a new air input that is usedto service the carrier track structure 72. Air introduced through thisconduit will be delivered to plenums disposed at sides of the trackstructure 72 so that the cans or other containers will be moved inregular pattern away from the single filer.

Again, while separate air supplies at 44 and 91 are suggested for thesingle filer apparatus and for any alternately used downstream containerhandling apparatus, it would be possible to run a single filer anddownstream delivery apparatus from a single source of air underpressure. Pressure control and delivery control valves would be utilizedso that the best pressure and air flow delivery rates could be providedfor each separate material handling component.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 through 14.This configuration of the invention is intended for use where less spaceis available for the single filer apparatus. The single filer zone 114of this FIG. 11 embodiment of the invention is relatively shorter thanthat used in connection with the FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 embodiments.Accordingly, the present apparatus is more adaptable for use as asubstitute or replacement for existing equipment in an already installedline of container handling equipment. In general, the more compactarrangement is derived by shortening the waterfall section and byeliminating the cascade component previously utilized. For thisinstallation the containers 121 that are initially in an uprightorientation are delivered by the waterfall section 112 of shortenedlength to fall downwardly into the free air zone 145 of the single filersection 114. The free air zone 145 is essentially defined by guide rails164 and the curved guide rail 136 that extends upwardly and out of thesingle filer zone 114. Guide rails 136 also continue downwardly out ofthe free air zone 145 and into the layout zone 150 where they become thebottom rails 143.

For this single filer apparatus the gravitational influences acting onthe containers cannot be as beneficially utilized as in the previousembodiments where a weir section is used. Gravitational influences,however, are used in the area adjacent curved rails 136 and directlyaligned thereabove, since an accumulation of containers in this areawill be acted on by gravitational influences to move the containers 122into single file arrangement along the guide rails 136 and 143 as thecontainers move downwardly and along such rails.

Since the area in which cans may stack one above the other and,accordingly, the area for beneficial gravitational forces is somewhatlimited, this embodiment of the invention is more significantlydependent upon the proper application of forces derived through use ofair under pressure. The bulk air introduced into the layout zone 150 andto the single filer free air zone 145 is used to move containersreceived in such zones toward positions that will contribute to eventualdisposition in single file side-by-side arrangement in the layout zone150 and downstream thereof as the containers are moved into the outputcarrier track structure 172.

For this embodiment of the invention there is essentially no bulkstorage zone, such as the previous zone 13, and there is no ramp, suchas the ramp 16, that helped to define such zone. The containers fallfreely from the waterfall section 112 down into the air single filersection 114 with such free fall being inhibited only by the bulk airintroduced into the single filer free air zone 145. In addition tocushioning the fall of the containers 122 as they move downwardly intoeventual contact with the tracks 136 and 143, the bulk air in this zone145 tends to move the containers into position against the rails 136 and164 as shown in both FIGS. 11 and 13. This result is obtained since thepressurized air in the free air zone 145 would escape through suchessentially open rails and out of the apparatus if containers were notdisposed therealong in side-by-side relationship to occlude such escapepath. It is then the containers themselves that are moved into alignedpositions along the guide rails that help to define the operative freeair zone 145.

For the static condition shown in FIG. 13 where no containers are beingdelivered from the single filer apparatus, the containers in the zone145 will be disposed in the arched configuration illustrated withadditional containers aligned along the rails 136 and 164 to occludemajor escape of air from such zone. In the dynamic condition as shown inFIG. 11 the specific container marked by the number 122 is falling alongthe guide rail 136. At the same time there is a tendency for any of theloose containers circulating centrally in the zone 145 to be movedtoward a position that will fill the gap between the marked container122 and the next lower container. The flow of bulk air toward such pointof escape will carry a loose container with it. Containers in the zone145 then are moved by the bulk pressurized air in such zone towardpositions of side-by-side alignment against the rails 136 and 143.Delivery into the air single filer should provide an excess of cans inthe zone 145 so that passages for the escape of air past the guide railscan be plugged by containers that are carried by excess air toward suchpoints of escape.

Bulk air in the layout zone 150 is used for a similar purpose, and,accordingly, by the time the containers are disposed along the loweropen guide rails 143, a near solid arrangement of containers will beobserved. As in the previous embodiments, the particular zones 145 and150 are again defined by the side plates 148 and 149 and by theremaining confining walls, such as the top cover 151 and the downstreamchimney wall 163.

The bulk air that is moved into the zones 150 and 145 is delivered bythe plenums 146 and 147 to pass inwardly through the openings 166 and167 at the downstream end of such plenums. The air passing through theseopenings is released in a reverse direction through the elongatedreversing chamber slots 158 and 159 in a sheet flow that is initiallyadjacent the confining sidewalls 148 and 149. Flow of bulk air from theplenums and through the openings 166 and 167 is controlled by butterflyvalves 176 and 177 disposed in the plenums 146 and 147. See FIGS. 12 and14. These butterfly valves are movable to positions for closing off theflow of air from the plenums 146 and 147 to the openings 166 and 167.

As in the previous embodiments of the invention, pressurized air is alsodelivered by the plenums 146 and 147 through the directed air jetsuppressor nozzles 152 and 154. These nozzles are again drilled so thatthe air expelled therefrom will have a downwardly and forwardly directeddisposition with the nozzles 152 being positioned in a continuous row atan elevation just above the top limit of containers coursing along thebottom rails 143. The additional air jets 154 are disposed in adiscontinuous row with the full representative distribution of such jetnozzles being shown in FIG. 11. The upstream grouping of such nozzles isdisposed in a position corresponding to the placement of the chimney 162and of the downstream chimney wall 163. The downstream grouping of suchnozzles 154 is again positioned just upstream from the point of exit forthe containers from the air single filer 114 and into the outputdelivery track 172 or an alternate curved track 172A. This downstreamgrouping of nozzles 154 is used again as additional suppressor nozzlesthat will tend to better assure entry of the containers into the outputtrack 172 and under the confining top 169 thereof. The upstream groupingof nozzles 154 tends to compact the containers that are disposed alongthe bottom track 143 and to move the containers downstream if slackexists. If a gap is created between the containers through action of theupstream suppressor jets 154, loose containers in the zone 150 thatcirculate just downstream of the chimney wall 163 will be movedimmediately by the escape of bulk air in such zone to fill the gap.

As in the previous embodiments, additional control of the bulk air inthe zones 150 and 145 is obtained through use of a chimney 162. For thisembodiment of the invention the chimney and its operation is relativelysimpler since less control seems to be necessary. A vane 161 ofperforated metal is positioned in the chimney, and the air introducedthrough the bottom of the chimney or past the rails 164 and anycontainers disposed therealong can exit by movement through the openingsin the vane 161 or past an upper free edge thereof. When no delivery ofcontainers is being made from the air single filer as illustrated inFIG. 13, the vanes 161 will itself be moved to a more open condition asillustrated, and a substantial quantity of air will be emitted throughthe chimney 162, while cans will be prevented from escaping by beingsupported on rails 200A.

When the apparatus of any of the embodiments has been closely adjustedto provide the desired output delivery of containers, little excess airis exhausted through the respective chimney sections. One function ofthe chimney installation, therefore, is to provide release for excessair buildup while a major function is to provide a balance between thebulk air dispositions in the layout zone 150 and the free air zone 145.Most all functional operations of the chimney can be alternatelyprovided through provision of a plurality of openings directly throughthe zone defining sidewalls 48 and 49. Where these same sidewalls arecovered by barrier materials 47 providing sound suppression, selectiveand differential movement of the sound barrier can valve and control theescape of excess bulk air out of the zones 150 and 145.

Presently operative apparatus has perforated metal in the single filerzone 14 in substitution for the sheet sidewalls 48 and 49. The chimneyis eliminated, and, accordingly, the total unit length is reduced. Themetal is perforated to have 1/4th inch round openings spaced 3/8ths inchapart on centers. Sound control barrier material such as insulationboard and the like as at 47 may be supported by suitable means (notshown) adjacent the outside surfaces of the sidewalls 48 and 49, and thebarrier material may be moved by suitable means (not shown) inwardly andoutwardly toward and away from contact with the perforated metal inorder to provide escape of excess bulk air from the zones 45 and 50. Theside panels 48 and 49 are actually perforated in areas extendingdownwardly below the ramp 36, but this is of no consequence since air isblocked from escaping to the back side of the ramp by the presence ofcans. Necessarily, the perforated metal acts in such operative apparatusin substitution for the chimneys 62 of the other described embodimentsand the additional vent component 80 of the FIG. 7 embodiment.

For all embodiments of the invention, the ramps providing the lowercontainer retaining elements may be of open type construction with siderails that engage only the ends of containers being provided. A largecentral portion of the containers is then accessible and exposed to begrasped by an operator who can simply introduce his hand or hands pastthe side rails to engage the containers. This open and accessiblearrangement is desirable, since cans that are bent can then be graspedby the operator to facilitate removal of the can downwardly and pastsuch rails. Any cans that are misoriented will move toward the openingbetween the rails and fall through to exit the apparatus. Since thewalls 48 and 49 are closely spaced with respect to the length of thecontainers, it is usually necessary to crush the can to effect suchremoval, but at least the bent or stuck can is removable to eliminatedisruption of the single filer apparatus operations.

The open bottom ramp arrangement for any of the shown and describedembodiments is not deleterious from the standpoint of air control, sincethe bulk air in the zones 45, 50, 145 and 150 will not escapeexcessively past the open ramps when a layer or layers of containers aredisposed thereagainst. As previously set forth, movement of bulk airtoward a point of escape along such open ramps will regularly carrycontainers toward such point of escape to block the air exit passage andto further and beneficially arrange the containers in the desiredside-by-side relationship.

A still further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 15. Thisconfiguration of the invention is also intended for use where less spaceis available for the single filer apparatus like the apparatus of FIGS.11-14. The components in the illustrated embodiment include thewaterfall segment or zone 212. The single filer zone 214 of thisembodiment is relatively shorter than that of the embodiments of FIG. 1and FIG. 7. Thus, this apparatus is also better adapted for use as asubstitute or replacement for existing equipment in an already installedline of container handling equipment. The more compact arrangement has agreater waterfall width and has eliminated the cascade. The containers221 that are fed in an upright position are delivered by the waterfallsection 212 to fall downwardly through a bulk storage zone 213 whichincludes a sloping ramp 216 that directs cans falling thereon into afree air zone 245 of the single filer section 214. The bulk storage zone213 is located intermediate the waterfall 212 and the lower ramp 236which directs cans 221 toward the single filer. The free air zone 245 isessentially defined by the ramp 216 and the guide rails forming ramp236. The cans coming off the ramp 216 are moved to the right by a streamof air issuing from nozzles 238 and 239 positioned beneath the lower endof ramp 216 and is supplied with air from plenums 246 and 247 or othersuitable source. The nozzles 238-239 provide an air turning plenum orblowback airstream and blow cans in the free air zone into a stack ofcans or ramp 236 as at 223. The container in the bulk storage zone 213and the single filer zone 214 are buffeted and moved directionally bythe flow of air delivered under pressure to obtain or enhance thedesired output result. An important part of the bulk storage design isthe provision of apertures 260 in sidewalls 248 and 249 in a pattern 262such that air from nozzles 238, 239, 240, 241 254 and 256 flowing intofree air zone 245 is allowed to escape through these apertures allowingthe containers 222 to drop through the bulk storage zone to be stackedas at 223 for introduction into the single filer zone 214 by nozzles 254and 255. The pattern 262 of apertures 260 are even of greater importancein directing the flow of containers through the bulk storage area of themultistream single filer embodiments.

The containers in the single filer zone are subjected to the action ofdirected flow jet nozzles in the bulk storage zone adjacent the guiderails 236 and extending into the free air zone 245. Air under pressurethat has been introduced through a conduit 244 to separate plenums 246and 247 disposed at the opposite lateral sides of the container definedelivery walls 248 and 249 that are a continuum of the sidewalls 248 and249 of the single filer zone 214. Sidewalls 248 and 249 are spaced aparta distance that is slightly greater than the lateral dimension of thecontainers to be worked on. The sidewalls 248 and 249 are continued outinto the single file layout zone 214 which is essentially defined by thesidewalls 248 and 249, a top enclosure 251 and bottom track 243. Theplenums 246 and 247 are disposed alongside and outside of the walls 248and 249 and a plurality of jet nozzles 254 and 255 are drilled throughthe walls 248 and 249, respectively, to deliver angularly disposed jetsof air against the containers to move the containers forwardly along thebottom tracks 236 and 243.

The air from the conduit 244 and plenums 246 and 247 which is in excessof that delivered through nozzles 254 and 255 and forward blowbacknozzles 238 and 239 moves rearward and is exhausted into free air zone245. Air from blowback nozzles 240 and 241 force the containers 222 downagainst the rails of track 243 as the containers move along such rails.The bulk air introduced into the layout zone 214 and to the single filerfree air zone 245 is used to move containers received in such zonestowards positions that will contribute to eventual disposition in singlefile side by side arrangement in the layout zone 214 and downstreamthereof as the containers are moved into the output carrier trackstructure 272.

For this embodiment of the invention the bulk storage zone isestablished by the provision of apertures 260 in the sidewalls to form apattern 262 such that the air from all sources flowing into the free airzone 245 is allowed to escape therethrough such that the containers 222are not buoyed up but rather tend to accumulate or fall through thiszone. In addition to cushioning the fall of the containers 222 as theymove downwardly into eventual contact with rails 236 and 243, the bulkair in the zone 245 tends to move the containers into position againstthe rails 236 and 243. This result is obtained since the pressurized airin the free zone 245 would escape through such essentially open railsand out of the apparatus if containers were not disposed therealong inside by side relationship to occlude such escape path. It is thus thecontainers themselves that are moved into aligned positions along theguide rails that help to define the operative free air zone 245. Inoperation there would normally be a solid row of containers along thetrack 243. There is a tendency for any of the loose containerscirculating centrally in the zone 245 to be moved toward a position thatwill fill the gap between containers on track 243. The flow of bulk airtoward the gap will carry a loose container with it.

The bulk air that is moved into the zones 214 and 245 is delivered bythe plenums 246 and 247 to pass inwardly through the blowback nozzles238, 239, 240 and 241 in a sheet flow that is initially adjacent theconfining sidewalls 248 and 249. Flow of bulk air from the plenums andthrough the blowback nozzles is controlled by a flapper valve 264 (FIG.17) in each of the blowback nozzles. The valves are actuatedindependently by suitable means such as a control wire, not shown, andare each held against further opening by means of a bolt 266 providing astep being threadedly received by a nut suitably secured to the wall ofa nozzle. Further, the blowback nozzles are pivotally attached to thesidwalls 248 and 249 such that the direction of air issuing therefromcan be selectively adjusted to tune and adjust the system (FIG. 16).

When the apparatus of any of the embodiments of the parent applicationhave been closely adjusted to provide the desired output delivery ofcontainers, little excess air was exhausted through the respectivechimney sections, 62 and 162. A function of the chimney was to providerelease for excess air build up while a major function was to provide abalance between the bulk air dispositions in the layout zone 150 and thefree air zone 145. In the present embodiment the provision of theforward blowback nozzles provides means of more close adjustment of airissuing into the free air zone 245 of the system. The provision of aplurality of apertures 260 in sidewalls 248 and 249 communicating withthe bulk storage zone 213 provides a selected bulk storage pattern 262that will valve and control the escape of excess bulk air out of zones214 and 245. As will be appreciated the sidewalls 248 and 249 canpreferably be entirely of perforated configuration and the bulk storagepattern may be obtained by the use of airflow barrier material, notshown, which may also be sound absorbing material such as insulationboard. Where sound barrier material is used it may be moved by suitablemeans, not shown, inwardly and outwardly, toward and away from contactwith the perforated sidewalls in order to provide escape of excess bulkair from the zone 245 and 214. Once the desired flow pattern isestablished, it may be desirable to render the bulk storage pattern 262more permanent by covering the openings 260 with pressure sensitive tapeand the like to produce the desired bulk storage pattern. It will alsobe appreciated that the blowback nozzles 238, 239, 240 and 241 can bepivoted to selectively direct air issuing therefrom and the flappervalve 264 is adjustable to control the volume of air issuing, see FIGS.16 and 17. The blowback valves are secured to the sidewalls 248 and 249by means of a bolt 280 threadedly received by a nut 282 secured to thesidewalls by suitable means such as welding, not shown. Blowback airinlet apertures 281 are provided in the sidewalls communicating thenozzles to the plenum 246. A vane 283 having holes that mate with theholes in the sidewalls may be provided as a means of controlling thevolume of air passing from the plenum into each blowback valve. Theblowback valve 238 may be provided with an opening 283 which is largerthan the diameter of the bolt 280 and a washer 284 of a larger diameterthan hole 283 is positioned under the head of the bolt to permit lateraland longitudinal movement and adjustment of the individual blowbacknozzles. Thus, the directivity and volume of air introduced into thezones 214 and 245 are balanced with the air and pattern of escapethrough the apertures of sidewalls 248 and 249 to provide the desiredbulk storage zone 213. As seen in FIG. 15, the bulk storage pattern 262is shown essentially rectangular in shape for a single out single filerwhereas different bulk storage patterns are preferred for two out, FIG.18 and four out, FIG. 19, single filers.

Referring now to FIG. 18, there is shown a double blowback, two out,single filer according to the invention. This embodiment movescontainers 321 via waterfall 312 into a bulk storage zone 313. The bulkstorage zone configuration is determined by the bulk storage pattern 362of holes 360 through sidewalls 348 and 349 that are left to permit airfrom the free air zone 345 to escape allowing the containers 322 tosettle and accumulate in the free air zone 345. The air issuing from thenozzles 338 and 338A blows the containers into a stack in the free airzone 345 resting on guide rails 343. The containers at the bottom of thestack are subjected to the action of directed air flow from jet nozzles354, 354A, 355 and 355A adjacent the guide rails 343. Nozzles 354 and355 direct the containers along rails 343 to the right single file zone314 and nozzles 354A and 355A direct the containers along rails to theright single file zone 314A. The lower nozzles 340, 341, 340A and 341Adirect air into the single filer zones 314 and 314A to keep thecontainers in contact with the rails 343 for delivery to output trackstructure 372 and 372A. As in the earlier embodiments, air is suppliedfrom a conduit 344 to plenums 346 and 347 for delivery to nozzles 338,339, 340, 341, 338A, 339A and 340A, 341A as well as jet nozzles 354,355, 354A and 355A. Again, the free air zone 345 is essentially definedby ramp 316 and the guide rails 343 while the single filer zone 314 tothe left is essentially defined by enclosure 351, sidewalls 348, 349 andguide rails 343 while to the right, the single filer zone 314A isessentially defined by the enclosure 351A, sidewalls 348, 349 and guidemeans 343.

Referring now to FIG. 19, there is shown a triple blowback, four outsingle filer according to the invention. This embodiment movescontainers 421 via waterfall 412 into a bulk storage zone 413. The bulkstorage zone configuration is determined by the bulk storage pattern 462of holes 460 in the sidewalls 448 and 449 that are provided or left openin the sidewalls where they are constructed of perforated sheet metal.The open apertures 460 permit air from the free air zone 445 to escapeallowing the containers 422 to settle and accumulate in the free airzone 445. The air issuing from nozzles 438 and 438A blows the containersinto a stack in the free air zone 445 resting upon guide rails 443. Thecontainers at the bottom of the stack are subjected to the action ofdirected air flow from jet nozzles 454, 454A, 455 and 455A adjacent theguide rails 443. Nozzles 454 and 455 direct the containers along rails443 to the left single file zone 414 and nozzles 454A and 455A directthe containers along rails 443 to the right single file zone 414A. Thelower blowback nozzles 440, 441, 440A and 441A direct air into the leftand right single filer zones 414 and 414A respectively to keep thecontainers into contact with the rails 443 for delivery to therespective output track structures 472 and 472A. Enclosures 451 and 451Aprovide the top of single filer zones 414 and 414A.

An additional single filer output track structure 472B and 472C areprovided immediately above the upper blowback nozzles 438, 438A, 439 and439A and guide rails 474 and 474A are provided to support the containersdelivered to the upper single filer zones 476 and 476A. A series of airjet nozzles 454B and 454C are provided adjacent the guide rails 474 and474A and air issuing therefrom the plenums 446 and 447 serve to directthe containers on guide rails 474 and 474A, respectively, to outputtrack structure 472B and 472C, respectively. The single filer zones 476and 476A are respectively essentially defined by tops 478 and 478A,sidewalls 448 and 449 and guide rails 474 and 474A. An upper pair ofblowback nozzles 440B and 440C are positioned immediately above therespective output track structure 472B and 472C to deliver directed airinto the single filer zones 476 and 476A such that the containers arepushed into contact with each other. Thus, it is seen that with thepresent invention it is possible within a limited amount of space todeliver plural single files of containers. While two and four singlefile versions are illustrated, it is believed obvious to those skilledin the art that a greater number of single files could be provided asdesired.

The perforation pattern of the sidewalls again may be obtained by customdesign or the sidewalls may be made of perforated sheet metal andportions of the perforations blocked off by suitable means to form thedesired pattern. In each embodiment, perforations are provided in thesidewalls adjacent the bulk storage zone. In the two and four outembodiments, the perforations in the sidewalls extend also into the freeair zone. It is also envisioned that the perforations in the sidewallsmay be blocked or partially blocked by sound barrier material such asinsulation board and may be movable by suitable means, not shown, towardand away from the sidewalls to control the escape of air and/or noise.

What is claimed:
 1. An apparatus for receiving articles in random bulkand for discharging same serially in single file which comprises:a pairof sidewalls held in spaced relation defining therebetween a bulkstorage zone, a free air zone and an adjacent layout zone having alayout path with the sidewalls being spaced apart a distance slightlygreater than the height of an article to be worked upon; a plenumadapted to be connected to a source of air under pressure attached toeither sidewall in coextensive relation, with the plenum at itsextremity exhausting into the layout zone in opposition to the directionof normal flow of articles therethrough and the plenum at anintermediate position exhausting into the free air zone in opposition tothe direction of normal flow of articles therethrough; a plurality ofopenings through the sidewalls communicating the plenums with the layoutzone and positioned essentially parallel to the lower extremity of thesidewalls; and exhaust means positioned intermediate the bulk storagezone and the layout zone to exhaust air from the free air zone.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings comprise air jetnozzles angularly disposed to direct jets of air forwardly againstarticles to move the articles down into contact with the layout path andaway from the bulk storage zone to a point of discharge.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein the layout path of the layout zonecomprises a guide rail attached to each side adjacent the lowerextremity thereof to support and guide articles through the layout zoneto a point of discharge.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the layoutpath of the layout zone comprises a bottom member secured to the sidesadjacent the lower extremity.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein theplurality of openings are positioned in a row to exhaust into and/oronto the ends of articles within the layout zone along the layout path.6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of layout zones aredefined by said sidewalls to each side of the bulk storage and free airzones adapted to provide a plurality of layout paths for dischargingarticles in multiple single files.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinat least one upper and one lower layout zone is defined by saidsidewalls to each side of the bulk storage and free air zones with theplenum at its extremity exhausting into the upper and the lower layoutzones in opposition to the direction of normal flow of of articlestherethrough.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exhaust meanscomprises a pattern of openings in the sidewalls essentially coextensivewith the bulk storage and free air zones.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1wherein a first pair of blowback nozzles interconnect the plenum at itsextremity with the layout zone and a second pair of blowback nozzlesinterconnect the plenum at an intermediate position with the free airzone.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a pair of blowback nozzlesinterconnects the plenum at its extremity with each layout zone.
 11. Anapparatus for receiving articles in random bulk and for discharging sameserially in single file which comprises:a pair of perforated sidewallsheld in spaced relation defining therebetween a bulk storage zone, afree air zone and an adjacent layout zone having a layout path with thesidewalls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the heightof an article to be worked on; a plenum adapted to be connected to asource of air under pressure attached to either sidewall in coextensiverelation, with the plenum at its furthermost extremity exhausting intothe layout zone in opposition to the direction of normal flow ofarticles therethrough, and, the plenum at an intermediate positionexhausting into the free air zone in opposition to the direction ofnormal flow of articles therethrough; and, a plurality of air jetopenings through the sidewalls communicating the plenums with the layoutzone and positioned essentially parallel to the lower extremity of thesidewalls, said perforated sidewalls providing exhaust means forexhausting air from the free air zone.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11wherein a plurality of layout zones are defined by said sidewalls toeach side of the bulk storage and free air zones adapted to provide aplurality of layout paths for discharging articles in multiple singlefiles.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one upper and onelower layout zone is defined by said sidewalls to each side of the bulkstorage and free air zones with the plenum at its extremity exhaustinginto the upper and the lower layout zones in opposition to the directionof normal flow of articles therethrough.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11wherein the exhaust means comprises a pattern of openings in thesidewalls essentially coextensive with the bulk storage and free airzones.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein a first pair of blowbacknozzles interconnect the plenum at its extremity with the layout zoneand a second pair of blowback nozzles interconnect the plenum at anintermediate position with the free air zone.
 16. The apparatus of claim11 wherein a pair of blowback nozzles interconnects the plenum at itsextremity with each layout zone.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11 includingbarrier means of a pattern essentially coextensive with all but the bulkstorage and free air zones to provide control of the escape of air fromthe bulk storage and free air zones.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17wherein the barrier means comprises sound barrier means positionedadjacent the perforated sidewalls in a manner adapted to be movedinwardly and outwardly toward and away from contact with the sidewallperforations to provide control of the escape of the air from the bulkstorage and free air zones.
 19. An apparatus for receiving articles inrandom bulk and for discharging same serially in single file whichcomprises:a pair of perforated sidewalls held in spaced relationdefining therebetween a bulk storage zone, a free air zone and anadjacent layout zone having a layout path with the sidewalls beingspaced apart a distance slightly greater than the major dimension of anarticle to be worked on; a plenum adapted to be connected to a source ofair under pressure attached to either sidewall in coextensive relation,with the plenum at its extremity exhausting into the layout zone inopposition to the direction of normal flow of articles therethrough; aplurality of air jet openings through the sidewalls communicating theplenums with the layout zone and positioned essentially parallel to thelower extremity of the sidewalls; and, sound barrier means positionedadjacent the perforated sidewalls in a manner adapted to be movedinwardly and outwardly toward and away from contact with the sidewallperforations to provide control of the escape of air from the bulkstorage and layout zones.